BRITISH BIRDS. 
THE ASH COLOURED FALCON. 
(Falco cinerarius.) 
Mr Montagu* gives a figure and description of this 
bird as one hitherto not noticed as a distinct species, 
and has with his usual minuteness detailed his reasons 
for thinking it is. He says, cs that it has been long 
known and confounded with the Hen-Harrier, a proof 
of which is evident by the description of what Mr Pen- 
nant supposed a variety of the Ringtail.” He adds, 
“ that it is hardly necessary to remark that the bright 
ferruginous colour of the markings is always sufficient 
to discriminate this.” In the adult male, these bright 
markings on the under parts of the body, and under 
the wings, and the black bars on the secondary quills, 
independent of the great difference in the tail, at once 
point out the distinction from the male Hen-Harrier. 
In the female, the uniform ferruginous colour of all 
the under parts is sufficient to discriminate it from the 
female Hen-Harrier, besides the colours being much 
brighter : and in the adolescent or changing state of the 
plumage, the same difference exists in the markings. 
These birds breed in the south of England, but whe- 
ther they remain with us the whole year, has not been 
ascertained. 
